Rain puts South Africa on brink

South Africa were 29 for 2 when rain lashed the Ageas Bowl in Southampton and continued for nearly five hours and more resulting in the game eventually getting washed out.

"It was just a conversation, a phonecall the night before the team got announced", said the captain after just 45 balls could be bowled against the Windies at Southampton.

Those conversion rates were also what Benkenstein pointed to as the major reason why South Africa's batting has not really fired.

Du Plessis revealed that he shared a phone call with De Villiers during this edition of Indian Premier League (IPL).

South Africa were handed a World Cup lifeline when their clash with the West Indies was washed out on Monday.

South Africa have to start winning matches to maintain any hopes of making the semifinals. "Add to that the whole saga surrounding the non-selection of AB de Villiers and everything just looks a little ugly for South Africa". "I guess we were hoping we would get a full day today, but nothing we can do about this so we have to move on and play well in the future matches".

"I had two weeks of one-on-ones with Hash and I think it made a big difference, we were able to just chat and clear his head". However, the available evidence suggested that South Africa actually dodged a bullet - especially after their designated mainstay, Hashim Amla, had been blasted from the crease in Sheldon Cottrell's second over, to take his tournament tally to 25 runs in three visits.

"At previous World Cups, we have done very well and then when it came to the end of the tournaments, we've been feeling the pressure there whereas now, we've been feeling it from the start, from everybody. We are very happy with the performance overall".

"We need to start playing better cricket, more consistent and more solid cricket".

And sent in at the Rose Bowl, they were tottering on 29 for two in the eighth over before rain intervened and eventually forced a no-result.

Next, Virat Kohli-led India handed them a six-wicket loss, meaning the elbow room for Du Plessis' team is increasingly getting narrow. If South Africa can wear that early period, keeping wickets in hand, the aim should then be to cash in against the change bowlers. When we play them, we want to play the same brand of cricket that we are playing, what we executed in the past couple of games. We're a game away, a hundred away, a win away from getting that confidence.